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The “-” character is a special item that denotes “no attribute”, i.e. the match requires that after selecting the
path's attributes according to Group, no attribute remains. It can be freely combined with other combinations in a
Value list.
RX only
If a path matches a line in the Global Attributes list and the RX only checkbox is checked for that line, the path is
marked as RX only. Double-click on the checkbox to toggle its state.
CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT - Antenna Paths
After the RF network has been described in the previous tabs, all possible Antenna Paths are generated
automatically. Here, Antenna Path describes a single selection accessed through pressing one of the buttons 1
to 7 below the LCD display on the SMD.
In simple configurations, Antenna Paths correspond to individual antennas. In more complex setups, Antenna
Paths may include also combinations of antennas, for example if a stack switch is present. The RF network may
include several branching points resulting in many combinations all of which can be presented as one Antenna
Path.
In general, not only can branching occur but paths can be also merged or join at different points of the network.
This can possibly result in several different paths to a single antenna or other resource in the network. Since the
operator does not generally care which particular path leads to the required resource, such equivalent paths are
grouped in a single Alternative Group. Alternative Groups rather than the individual paths are assigned to a
single button on SMD. The user still can actively chose a particular Antenna Path from an Alternative Group by
multiple presses of the same button but when switching away and subsequently returning to a given endpoint,
SMD will automatically chose the first available alternative depending on what resources are using by other
stations (SMDs) in the network.
How Antenna Paths are generated
The basic rule for generating Antenna Paths is, that every
end-point
represents one Antenna Path. End-points
are R-Ports of RF boxes, which have the “Include to selection” box checked in Rules. When an antenna is
added in the RF Boxes tab, this box is checked by default since we normally want to have all antennas available
for use. When switches are added, the “selection” box is normally not checked. However, if there is a reason to
specify a path to a switch instead of an antenna, this box may be checked and the port/switch will appear as
another endpoint.
NOTE:
The term “end-point” is slightly misleading here. It is meant as the point where control for given path
ends, rather than the physical end of the path. The physical path always extends to an element that has
no A-port (that is to an antenna or group of antennas). If the endpoint is not an antenna but the R-port of
a switch and there are additional switches “down the line” all of the switches will assume their “last used”
state (the state last set by the SMD currently in control).
Every Antenna Path has a
name
, which is generated by Router in such way that it uniquely identifies the
Antenna Path, which is displayed in the
Description
column in Antenna Paths tab. If the Antenna Path ends in
a single antenna, the path name is that of the antenna. If the path ends on the R-port of a switch with only one
R-port, the path name is that of the switch. If the path ends at a switch with more than one R-port, the path
name will be the name of the switch with the name of the port appended (e.g., Double Six Switch #2.A for R-port
A on Double Six Switch #2).
The special path,
No Antenna
, is automatically generated in every configuration to allow disconnecting all
antennas.
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